Sliding door construction



Sept. 11, 1962 w. J. MATHEWS 3,052,930

SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 11,1962 w. J. MATHEWS SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.17, 1959 VfiZZiam JMaz ews A311 ATTORNEY Sept. 11, 1962 w. J. MATHEWSSLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 17, 1959 Tic 3.

S 8 in T N uh R E m N ET IM M A 2% A. WY a .ma 1 w m M B 7 5 I I 2 l 09m n I w g aw M w B ar A of .H 9 1 m United States Patent Office3,552,936 Patented Sept. 11, 1952 3,052,930 SLIDING DOOR CONSTRUCTIONWilliam J. Mathews, Miami, Fla., assig lor to Pan American Window Corp.,Miami, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed Nov. 17, 1959, Ser. No.853,597 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-19) This invention rel-ates to a closureassembly and more particularly to a sliding door closure assembly of thetype wherein a panel or panels are mounted for translatory movementalong vertically spaced apart guideways.

Still more particularly, this invention rel-ates to a sliding doorclosure assembly having especial utility as a shower enclosure or likeapplications involving exposure to water.

This invention, further relates to a novel sliding closure structure andsill therefor having many advantages as compared with sliding doorsheretofore known.

It is known in the art to provide a sliding door assembly wherein apanel or panels are suspended by rollers for sliding translator-ymovement along overhead tracks. In such known assemblies, the loweredges of the panels are normally guided in extended U-shaped channelsformed on the upper surface of a sill structure disposed beneath theoverhead tracks. Such known assemblies, particularly when used as partof a bath or shower enclosure or other application wherein they may besubjected to water spray, present certain drawbacks, due in large partto the U-channeled sill structure above described.

These channels tend to collect water, notwithstanding the drainageapertures usually provided intermittently along sides thereof. As aresult, such collected water, especially as a carrier of soap suds, maystagnate, creating an unsightly as well as unhygienic condition in thebathroom. In areas where the mineral content of the water is high,evaporation of water collected in the sill channels leaves a whiteresidue or scale which similarly detracts from the appearance of thesill and assembly.

The above noted problems are magnified by the difficulty of cleaning thesill structures heretofore known, the exposed surfaces of the U-slrapedchannels being relatively inaccessible.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a slidingclosure assembly substantiafly free from the drawbacks commonlyassociated with similar assemblies heretofore lmown. More specifically,it is an object of this invention to provide a sliding door assembly foruse as a shower enclosure or the like having a sill structuresubstantially free from a tendency to permit water to collect thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide an assembly of the typedescribed wherein the exposed parts are readily accessible for cleaning.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an assembly ofthe type described wherein the assembly, in a measure, is self-cleaning.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an assembly ofthe type described wherein slight inaccuracies in alignment of theassembly parts will not adversely affect the smooth operabili-ty of thepanels, thereby enabling relatively inexperienced do it yourselfcraftsmen to install the assembly, particularly to existing bath tubinstallations to convert them to shower stalls.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an assembly ofthe type described, featuring exceptionally smoothly operating slidingpanel members.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an assembly ofthe type described wherein the panel members may be easily mounted anddemounted from the guideways provided therefor.

Still further objects of the invention relating to details ofconstruction and economies of manufacture as well as the advantages ofthe invention will appear more fully hereafter.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the sliding closure assembly used in ashower enclosure installation;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified fragmentary rear elevational View of the slidingclosure assembly, with parts broken away to show details ofconstruction;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a magnified horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective of the sill and lower panel members, as viewedfrom within the shower enclosure;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic assembly view from inside the enclosure,illustrating the manner in which the panel members are installed theframework.

A sliding door assembly in accordance with the invention is illustratedin FIGURE 1 in use as a closure for a tile framed opening 10 to a showerenclosure, it being understood that this opening may be the space overan existing bath tub installation for conversion to a stall for showersinstead of a curtain enclosed space.

The opening 10 to the enclosure is defined by horizontally disposed topand bottom walls ll, 12, respectively, and by vertically disposed leftand right side walls 13, 14, respectively.

Side jamb pieces :15, 16 are secured to the vertical edges of the wallsl3, 14, respectively, by suitable fastener eans, such as expansionbolts, friction nails or the like, depending upon the materials of whichthe walls are fabricated. A countersunk buffer 17 (see FIGURE 4) ofnylon or a like shock reducing material may be interposed betweenfasteners 18 and the jamb pieces 15, 16, to prevent damage or shock whenthe panels are slid against the jambs with undue violence.

The panel supporting strurcture is completed by the provision of upperframe member 19 and sill 2t), secured, respectively, to the upper andlower walls 11 and 12. The complete framework consisting of the jambpieces, upper frame member and sill, in accordance with known practice,is aligned in a vertical plane.

The panel members 3%, 31 comprise rectangular frames, preferably ofextruded aluminum or the like, said frames presenting on their innerperipheries, a continuous U-shape-d channel within which rectangularlights of glass, plastic or the like may be secured.

The extrusions 29 forming the upper and lower frame portions of panels30 and 31, as may best be seen in FIG- URE 3, comprise in cross sectionspaced parallel walls 32, 33 joined by an intermediate connecting web 34disposed normal to the plane of the walls 32, 33. The wall 32 is longerthan the wall 33, and since the inwardly directed edges 35, 36 of thewalls 32, 33, respectively, extend the same distance beyond the web 34,a cross section through the extrusion 29 is to define an inwardlydirected, U-shaped channel 37 and an outwardly directed J-shaped channel38. in addition, a reinforcing rib or wall 33 extends inwardly from theweb 34 within channel 37, in parallelism with walls 32, 33, for purposeswhich will appear hereafter.

The extrusions 4t) forming the side or vertically directed frameportions of the panels 36, 31, as may be seen from FIGURE 4, comprise,in cross Section, inwardly directed extended U-shaped channels 41defined by parallel side walls 42, 43, extending from base wall 44. Aledge or extension 45 of the wall 44 may be provided to coact with thebuffers 17 in limiting the closing movement of the doors or panels 3431, as well as to provide a means for gripping the doors from within theshower enclosure. In addition, the side walls 42, 43 of extrusions 46are provided with opposed lips 46, 47, normal to the walls 42, 43,respectively, for purposes appearing hereafter.

The upper and lower components 50, 51 of the panel frames are formed bycutting extrusions 29 and the sides 52 by cutting extrusions 40 intosections of a size dependent upon the ultimate size of panel desired.The side and lower sections of the frames are mitered to join at a lineM extending through the corners thereof, the miter line M where theupper frame section 51} joins the side sections 52 being at the cornerof the side sections, but downwardly spaced from the corner of the upperframe sections 50.

The side sections 52 are secured to the upper and lower sections 50, 51by means of corner key members 53 comprising right angular, L-shapedparts. Machine screws 54 inserted through countersunk apertures 55 inwalls 44 of side sections 52 and through holes 56 in the members 53 andlock nuts 57 subsequently tightened over the said screws, serve tosecure the said key members 53 tightly adjacent the inner face of wall44 at the upper and lower extremities of the side sections 52.

The key members 53 are secured adjacent the outer face of the walls 34of the upper and lower frame sections 50, 51, respectively, byself-tapping screws 58 passed through countersunk apertures 59 in keymembers 53 and threaded into the walls 34 and 39 of the said upper andlower members. It will be readily recognized that when thus assembled,the horizontal legs 60 of the key members 53 will be disposed within theJ-shaped channels 38 of the upper sections 50, partially to block thesaid channels adjacent the outer longitudinal edges thereof. Thechannels 33 of said upper sections 50 are blocked at a pointlongitudinally inwardly spaced from the end of legs 60 by lugs 60'formed by portions of the wall 34 surrounding the rib 39 which have beenstruck out to project into the said channel.

Lights 61, which may comp-rise glass, plastic or the like, are securedto the panel frames prior to the final assembly thereof, as previouslydescribed. For this purpose, strips of U-shaped vinyl or other packingor gasket material 62 are cut and mitered in lengths corresponding tothe inner periphery of the frames.

The gaskets 62 include a central branch 63 and extending, generallyparallel legs 64, adjacent the ends of which there are formed outwardlydirected flanges 65. Prior to assembly of the frame, the mitered gasketsections are forced over the lights 61, with the legs 64 embracing theouter peripheral and adjacent portions of the lights. The frame sections50, 51, 52 upon assembly, will embrace the outer gasket surfaces,causing a tight sealing of the lights in the panel frames.

In the case of the side sections 52, the gasket 62 will be secured withthe branch 63 of the gasket resting against inturned lips or walls 46,47, and the gasket flanges 65 lying in sealing position adjacent theends of legs 42, 43. In the case of the top and bottom sections 50, 51,the branch 63 of the gasket will be centrally contacted by an inwardlydirected reinforcing rib or wall 39, and the flanges 65 will be sealedagainst the ends of legs 32, 33.

The panels 30, 31 are provided with upwardly extending roller brackets70 adjacent the corners of the said panels. Ball bearing rollers 71,preferably having nylon rims, are rotatably secured to brackets 70 byshafts 72, the rollers 71 being offset laterally form the brackets sothat when the rollers are suspended in a track, the panels will tend tohang substantially in a vertical plane.

The upper door frame 19 is generally U-shaped in cross section, as maybest be seen from FIGURE 3. A pair of parallel tracks 89, 81 extend thelength of the frame 19, the said tracks being laterally and verticallyspaced apart.

The sill 20 is disposed vertically beneath the upper 4 frame 19 andcomprises an upper track or step 90 and a lower track or step 91. Afirst longitudinally extending, partially closed guideway 92 is providedadjacent and extending above the upper step 90 the said guideway beingdefined by the step 99, the forward wall 93 of the sill 20, upperguideway wall 94, and a lip 95 directed toward but terminating in spacedrelation to the step 90. A second longitudinally extending, partiallyclosed guideway 96 is provided adjacent the outermost part of the lowerstep 91, the said second guideway having a bottom defined by portions ofstep 91, a substantially vertical side Wall 97, a top wall 98 comprisinga portion of the upper step 90, and a lip 99 directed toward andterminating in spaced relation to the lower step 91. The portions of thefirst and second guideways extending above the upper and lower steps,respectively, generally resemble, in cross section, an inverted J. Theupper exposed surfaces of the steps 90, 91 and the top walls 94, 98 ofthe guideways 92, 96 are preferably inclined toward the inner orrearward edge 1% of the sill 20 so that water impinging upon any upwardexposed surface of the sill will tend to drain toward the said inneredge 160.

The sill 20 is provided with outer and inner foot portions 101, 102,adapted to rest on the upperface of the lower framing wall 12, or thetub edge where the installation is to such construction. The feet 101,102, together with resilient gasket 103 carried in channel 104 beneaththe sill 20, assure a water-tight sealing fit of the sill so that waterwill not be able to pass beneath the said sill. 1

Before final installation of the sill 20, between the side jambs 15,guide blocks 110 must be endwisely slid into engaged position Within theguideways 92, 96. The guide blocks 110 are preferably fabricated ofnylon or a similar material which offers a low coeflicient of frictionand great resistance to wear when slid against aluminum or a like metal.The guide blocks are generally J-shaped in vertical cross section andinclude an upper, horizontally extended branch portion 111, a downwardlydirected leg 112, a laterally extending portion 113, and an upwardlydirected offset lip or flange 114. Two guide block members 110 areprovided for each of the tracks or steps 90, 91, the offset flanges 114of the blocks riding in the guideways 92, 96 of the upper and lowersteps, respectively. It will be readily recognized that once the sillhas been secured between jamb pieces 15, with the guide blocks 1 10seated as above described, the blocks may be slid longitudinally alongthe sill 20, but the flange 114, due to its confinement in the guideways92, 96, will limit relative lateral movement of the blocks and sill.

Installation of the panels 30, 31, is best understood by referring toFIGURES 3 and 6. The panel 30' must first be installed on overhead trackby seating the rollers 71 on the said track, such seating being mosteasily accomplished if, in addition to being lifted, the panel so isinclined slightly to the horizontal. With the rollers 71 riding on thetrack 80', the lower edge of the panel is swung toward the sill untilthe panel is aligned in a substantially vertical plane. The panel isnext canted sidewise, as shown in FIGURE 6, while being maintained in avertical plane, using one of the rollers 71 as a fulcrum point for suchsidewise canting. As a result of the last mentioned canting, one of thelower marginal edges of the panel 30 will be elevated from the sill 20,permitting one of the guide blocks 110 which ride in guideway 92 to heslid along the step to a position beneath the elevated guide blockreceiver pocket P formed in the channel 38 of the lower frame member ofthe panels by the legs 60 and lugs 60. The panel 30 may then be loweredand returned to its normal position where the guide block will betrapped in its working position in receiver pocket P. A block 110 isinstalled on the pocket P located at the opposite lower edge of thepanel 30 in similar manner, this time canting the panel in the oppositedirection by using as a fulcrum the roller 71 not used in theinstallation of the first guide block.

The panel 31 is installed in like manner on overhead track 81, the guideblocks 110 which have their upwardly extending, offset portions 114riding in guideway 96 being employed in this instance.

It should be noted that considerable vertical clearance between the topof blocks 110 and the wall 34 in the lower panel frame members isprovided, so that in the event the sill 20 is not aligned in preciseparallelism with the upper tracks 80, 81, a measure of relative movementof these parts is permitted, so that the panels will not bind as theyare slid along the tracks. Relatively small lateral clearances of blocks110 in the pockets P is provided, such clearance being sufiicient,however, to permit the blocks to move freely upwardly and downwardly inpockets P, as heretofore described.

It will be observed that in sliding the panels, there is no metal tometal contact, thereby assuring exceptionally smooth operation andminimizing wear. Knobs K may be affixed to the outer surface of thepanel frames for further facilitating the sliding thereof.

It will be readily recognized that by providing a sill structure whereinall the upper surfaces are unobstructed and preferably inclinedinwardly, or to the tub side of the enclosure, water impinged upon thesill will drain freely, and there will be no substantial accumulationsof Water and, accordingly, no formations of slime or mineral deposits,as found where conventional sliding doors are used in an environmentwhere there will be exposure to water. Such free draining of the sillstructure is accomplished while providing full support against lateraldeflection of the lower marginal edges of the panels with respect to thesill.

Moreover, the wiping action of the guide blocks 110 sliding over thesteps of the sill 20 as the panels move, will tend to dislodge dropletsnot drained from the upwardly faced or inclined surfaces and will tendto make the sill self-cleaning, in a measure, with the use of thepanels.

Further, should cleaning of the sill be found necessary, the operationmay be readily accomplished since all upper, visually exposed surfacesof the sill are readily available for cleaning by a damp rag or thelike. In contrast, the upper sill surfaces of conventional sliding doorsutilizing U-shaped channel members cannot be thoroughly cleaned withoutconsiderable ditliculty.

A further advantage of the above described sliding closure assembly isthe ease with which the panel members may be mounted within the guideand support mechanism as compared with closure structures heretoforeknown.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what isclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure structure comprising a horizontally disposed upper track, apanel guided for linear sliding movement along said track, a silldisposed beneath said track in parallel spaced relation thereto, theupper surface of said sill being sloped laterally with respect to thehorizontal, a partially closed guideway formed longitudinally of saidsill, said guideway terminating in a lip directed toward and spaced fromsaid upper surface of said sill, at least one independent guide memberslidably carried by said sill, said member including an offset portionadapted to ride in said guideway, said panel including, adjacent thelower marginal edge thereof, guide receiver means loosely telescopedwith said guide members to secure the latter to said panel againstsubstantial lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to said lowermarginal edge, saidguide means being insertible endwise into telescopedrelation with said receiver means.

2. A sliding closure structure comprising a horizontally disposed upperframe member having a pair of laterally spaced apart tracks, a panelmember guided for linear sliding movement along each said track, a silldisposed in parallel spaced relation beneath said tracks, said sillincluding longitudinally extending upper and lower, laterally slopingdrainage steps, a first partly closed guideway adjacent the uppermostincline-d edge of said upper drainage step, said guideway terminating ina lip directed toward and spaced from said upper drainage step, a secondpartly closed guideway having a top wall portion defined by an extensionof the lower inclined edge of said upper drainage step, said secondguideway terminating in a lip directed toward and spaced from said lowerdrainage step, upper and lower independent guide means slidably mountedon said upper and lower steps, respectively, said guide means includingan offset portion adapted to ride in said guideways and downwardlydirected portions gravitationally resting on said steps, each said panelincluding adjacent the lower marginal edge thereof guide receiver meanssurrounding said guide means and permitting relative vertical shiftingmovement of said guide means with respect to said panel, said guidemeans being insertible endwise into engagement with said receiver means.

3. A sliding closure structure comprising an upper frame member having apair of laterally spaced apart tracks, a pair of panel members arrangedto be suspended one on each said track for linear sliding movementtherealong, a sill arranged to be disposed in parallel spaced relationbeneath said tracks, said sill including longitudinally extending upperand lower drainage step portions, first and second partially closedguideways extending substantially the entire length of said silladjacent said upper and lower step portions, respectively, each saidguideway including top and side wall portions terminating in a lipdirected toward and spaced from one of said step portions, independentguide means arranged to be slidably mounted in said guideways, saidguide means including offset portions insertible endwise into saidguideways, and guide receiver means adjacent to the lower marginal edgesof said panel members arranged to be seated over said guide means andproviding a vertically shiftable connection therewith, whereby saidparts are loosely interfit.

4. A sliding closure structure comprising an upper frame member having apair of laterally spaced apart tracks, a panel member suspended fromeach said track to be slidable therealong, a sill adapted to be disposedin parallel spaced relation beneath said tracks, said sill includinglongitudinally extending, laterally sloping upper and lower drainagestep portions, a first partly closed guideway adjacent the uppermostinclined edge of said upper drainage step, said guideway terminating ina lip directed toward and spaced from said upper drainage step, asecond, partly closed guideway having a top wall portion defined by anextension of the lower inclined edge of said upper drainage step, saidsecond guideway terminating in a lip directed toward and spaced fromsaid lower drainage step, independent guide means mounted on said upperand lower step portions for sliding movement therealong, offset portionson said guide means riding in said guideways and limiting lateralmovement of said guide means with respect to said sill, said guide meansincluding portions extending laterally from said guideways and guidereceiver means loosely seated over said extending portions of said guidemeans and comprising vertically extending pockets carried by said panelmembers adjacent the lower marginal edges thereof.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said steps are inclinedin the same direction and said upper step is sloped toward said lowerstep.

6. in a sliding closure structure including an upper frame member havinga pair of laterally spaced apart tracks and a panel member suspendedfrom each said track for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, saidpanel members including vertically extending pockets defined by thelateral Walls of said panels adjacent the leading and trailing lowermarginal edges of said panels, a

sill structure including longitudinally extending upper and lower stepportions, first and second longitudinally extending guideway meansadjacent said upper and lower step portions, respectively, and guidemeans including offset portions slidable within said guideway means,said guide means including extending portions slidable within saidpockets in a vertical plane and downwardly directed portionsgravitationally resting atop said step portions, said downwardlydirected portions wiping against the upper faces of said step portionsas said guide means slide along said guideway means.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said steps are sloped fordrainage toward the lateral marginal edge of said sill adjacent saidlower step portion, said second guideway means is disposed in a planebeneath the lowermost inclined edge of said upper step, and theuppermost portion of said second guideway means comprises a portion ofsaid upper step.

8 8. A sliding closure structure comprising an upper frame member havinga track, a panel member slidably suspended on said track, a silldisposed parallel to and Vertically beneath said track, a guidewayformed on said sill and including lateral retaining walls extendingalong said sill, at least one guide block slidably mounted within saidguideway and including a portion extending without said guideway, and aguide block receiver member on said panel loosely engaging saidextending portion of said guide block, said panel and said guide blockbeing relatively movable in the plane of said panel and being insertibleendwise into said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSmania-m;

